Posts tagged “art”

I read a FB post from an author the other day and it really bothered me. I won’t use a name, but it was a fellow SCP author (my former publisher), so I know the author well.

This author was talking about being out somewhere, and, in casual conversation with a stranger, the subject of “where do you work” came up. The author, of course, said, “I’m an author” because, it’s true, that’s their job. The other person laughed at the answer and said, “What’s your real job”?

Whether you’re an author, musician, artist, etc (anyone in a creative-type career path), you can probably relate to this kind of thing happening.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? And how did you handle it?

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an update, so I apologize. I’m doing well with my promise to blog more, which I hope I can keep up with.

My current projects and book updates….

I’m focusing on Christian’s Kisses edits/rewrites. I’m debating whether or not to take huge chunks out of books #3 and #4 and make them one book, or tweak it and add a bunch to both books. Book #2 is ready to go, I just haven’t committed to a release date, yet.

CK is a big project, so I haven’t had time to work on much else. I’m getting a little burnt out from editing, but I’m trying to take a little break here and there so I stick with it. CK is something I’m doing on my own, so I have to make my own deadlines. It’s easy to slack when you get to do that. Thanks to the readers that have been nudging me to finish the next book, it helps give me the drive to trudge through edits. Besides that, I really don’t have any writing/editing goals.

A little side event….

One of my cover designs (not for my books, one I did for a publisher I work for) was in a cover art competition. Sexy men or something. It was an awesome design, but it didn’t win 😦 I think there’s another one of my covers in a competition coming up, too, but I can’t remember what. If I find out, I’ll mention it.

When I do a cover commission, I don’t always get to see where it goes after I hand it over to the author (or publisher), so it’s always nice when the authors keep in touch with me to tell me things like that. I’ve had a few of my designs win competitions, and one was even used in a convention as an example of great cover art (that was cool). These are my warm fuzzy moments hee hee.

Outside of writing…..

It’s summer time, so I’ve been busier. Last month, we went on vacation to upper Wisconsin and spent some time at the lake. I love the state of Wisconsin. If I could choose to move somewhere, it would be Wisconsin. Though…it’s only a few miles from where I live, so I go there a lot, anyway, so there’s probably no need too lol.

I picked my own strawberries this year, too, something I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do. And yes, they were yummy. Strawberries are my favorite food, by the way 😉

My boys are getting bigger every day, little Tank is going to be two already next month. How crazy! My oldest, Kyle, turned eight last month.

Also, it’s butterfly season, which means Kyle is looking for caterpillars. It’s a big thing around our house lol. Last year, we raised a few monarchs and released them.

It was a neat thing to see and I learned A LOT about monarchs. I’d encourage anyone to do it with their children. It helps keep the population up, which I hear is going down a bit.

You’re supposed to be able to get these tags to put on them to track where they go, which we may do this year. It would be neat to see where they go after you release them.

I’m going to a Starset concert on the 29th, which I am REALLY excited about. They are my favorite band so having them come here is frickin’ awesome. Hinder and Pop Evil are going to be there, too, and they’re okay, but…seeing Starset is the ONLY reason I’m going 🙂

I hope the rest of you are enjoying your summer and doing lots of fun things, as well.

I’ll be doing a cover reveal next week for Christian’s Mate, book #2 in the series. It’s a full novel, unlike book #1, which is more like a novella. It was originally supposed to be labeled “prequel”, but I find it’s easier to label it #1 so readers know the order of the books. Book #2 was originally supposed to be book #1, if that makes sense. I’ll have the blurb and specs on the book posted next week, as well. I’m hoping to release it by the end of the month or in July. There’s no definite release date yet. When I set one, I’ll let you know. 🙂

And if you have any questions, just shoot me a message and I’ll try to answer them.

This is an excerpt from Christian’s Promise (CK#1) which releases soon. I love Christian’s last few lines. It makes you rethink everything she said.

“Give me your thoughts. I would love to hear an artist’s interpretation.” He put a finger to his lips, Christian seeming genuinely interested in the subject. She watched him scan the painting as if searching for something deeper within those thick, ancient layers of paint.

“In this piece, he captures a moment of love for all eternity. Stilling such a tender moment and showing us the passion they must have felt—the animalistic lust overtaking them in that moment before they…” She released a wicked chuckle, her eyes ticking to him briefly, but her gaze didn’t stick. She flirted in a sweet, playful tone. “Consummated their love.”

“More like devoured,” Christian said with a devilish chuckle. “With that look in his eye….” He motioned to the painting as he spoke. “He wants more than consummation.” He moved to hold her again, Christian squeezing her hip.

“A trademark of a Hamstein,” Addison added with a tender grin, her voice so soft, it was almost a whisper. She redirected the conversation. “I love all the vibrant colors. It ignites such strong emotions. And his overpowering use of that velvety red? It gives it such drama, such depth. There are no words to describe how beautiful this painting is.”

Addison’s gaze bounced over the masterpiece. “It’s so….perfect—lifelike. I feel as if I touched it, I could feel the softness of her skin. Maybe even the heat, as well.”

He chuckled as he said his words, “The heat you feel—that may be coming from the lights. Good effect though. In this light, with darkness surrounding it, the piece commands your attention and you can’t look away. We are like moths, are we not?” He was staring at her, Addison feeling the heaviness of it. He said his next words in a deep, smooth tone, “Drawn to beauty?”

Swallowing hard, she desperately tried to fight the urge to spring forward and kiss him. To accept his advance. Addison narrowed her brow, as she turned back to the painting. “Though, like real life, from a distance, it looks this way, but if you were to go up and touch it, you’d feel the rough texture of the paint—the ugliness that hides behind fabricated beauty.”

“A romantic interpretation,” Christian said softly. “And though I do like your view of it, I believe it is not the true subject matter of the piece.”

“What are your thoughts?”

“It’s about rape.”

“Rape?” Her gaze bounced to the devil’s face. To his lips tangling with the maiden’s. How his body was bent over her as he took her with force. He was right.

“It’s about the taking of innocence, I believe.” His smile was replaced by a hardened expression, his eyes narrowing.

Another tease from CK#1 🙂

The cover reveal for Christian’s Promise (book #1 of the Christian’s Kisses series) and specs on the book will be posted on Friday, April 21st. Make sure to check it out! In celebration of the book’s upcoming release, I’m doing some special promotions because…well, it’s more fun that way, right?

I want to get some love on the CK fan page, which has had few followers begin to trickle in. I wasn’t going to use it much, but since more people are following it now, I will update it more often and post some exclusive content for the CK series on there.

AND, as a bonus for my followers on the page, the book trailer for the series will be a FB exclusive so it will be posted on the CK fan page before it shows up on any of my other social media sites. I won’t say when, either. You gotta follow the page wait for that surprise. Hee hee.

I’m doing a cover reveal for the Christian’s Kisses’ books soon, as well as releasing the book trailer. Yay!

I’ve decided to call the prequel (which is a novella) to the series “Book 1”. It’s easier for everyone if I do that. I know it’s not a “full” novel but…

Since I decided to do that, there are now seven books in the series. The titles will be revealed during the cover reveal (I don’t think I’ll reveal the blurbs for each one until they are ready for release).

The date for the first book’s release isn’t set in stone yet, but it should be releasing soon (like within a month or two).

If anyone has any questions about the series, or for me, just shoot me a message either via FB or email.